SilverStyle: Hard shell or gel for your cell

SilverStyle is a weekly blog focusing on fashion and beauty both in and outside of Blair. Come back next Wednesday for the next edition of SilverStyle.

We can all remember the days when we accidentally dropped our phones on the floor and were horrified to watch as the battery pack and cover detached and scattered across the floor. After picking up the pieces and reassembling them, you may have been shocked to discover how many fresh, new scratches have appeared on sides and screen. Most people keep the same phone for years at a time, so it is important to keep them clean and scratch-free. Luckily, protecting your phone is not too hard, especially if you have a sleek, classy case to keep it in.

Hard vs. Soft Cases
Most phone cases can be classified as hard-shelled, snap-on, soft silicon or gel based. If you tend to drop your phone often, then a hard case is probably for you since they are sturdier and more shock-absorbent. If you like to keep your phone in your pocket and want a lighter-weight option, then go for a bendable silicon or gel case.

Different Shapes
Cases can obviously give your phone a new color and pattern, but they can also change the shape. Instead of looking at a plain rectangle, try picking a case that is shaped like an animal or cartoon character. This case may be a little harder to fit in your pocket, but adds a little flair to the traditional rectangular case. Some phone cases are so extravagant that they disguise the phone altogether. Our personal favorite is this hard-shelled case that looks like a cassette tape.

Designs
When it comes to fashion, sparkles can almost never go wrong. To have an eye-catching phone that glistens every time you receive a new text message, try finding a sparkle-studded case or a glittery silicon one. If you want a more inconspicuous phone, go for solid colored cases in dark colors such as black or gray. If cases are not your thing but you still want to protect your phone, a clear or opaque hard-shelled case will also be discrete and make it appear as though there is no case at all.

Mix and Match
Despite all the neat shapes and textures that some cases come in, the most innovative cases are the mix-and-match types. In this example, the case is a hard-shell webbed pattern that can go on top of any thin gel case underneath. Although relatively rare to find, these cases will allow you to mix and match different inner gel cases, giving you a "new" case every day.

No matter what style suits you best, it is definitely a good idea to get a case for your phone. They add flare to your cell and keep it scratch free as well.